PWK/John Eargle Recording

[Mallette]

One of the treasures I have discovered whilst transferring PWK's tapes is a recording of the Robert H. Morton Theatre organ at the Perot Theatre in Texarkana.  It's important in its own right, but even more so in that the instrument now rests in the catacombs under that venerable theatre.  It belongs in the right chamber seen above the box seats in this image. 

 

I will be playing this recording and another 8 minutes or so of other pieces during intermission at the main program of the Scott Joplin International Centennial Celebration the RMHC is hosting 31 March-2 April in Texarkana.  Speakers will be KI-396s and an 1802 subwoofer driven by Crown amps.  This recording was made in 1954.  Tickets and info at www.texarkanarmhc.org

 

Dave

Beguine.wav

[Schu]

I love Begin the Beguine... how are the sonics and sound quality of these recordings?

 

I listened to it and over the computer it isn't that impactful.

[Mallette]

Bass is incredible.  Should rock the house with the 1802 subwoofer and KI396s at the Scott Joplin event.  I am going to play about 10:00 worth of selections at intermission to begin "softening" the folks to restore it..  It looks like about 350,000 to both restore it and add enough conventional stops to make it more useful to the symphony.  Almost no symphony's in Texarkana sized cities have an organ at their disposal. 

 

The recording is not intimated.  Mics had to be 70 feet or so from the organ chamber give it's position way up the wall, and without people that hall is pretty live.  Nonetheless, the stereo is excellent and noise VERY low for 1954 acetate.  See Two Channel Stereo for a video accompanied edit.

 

Dave